Hat-trick by Yohan Mendis and Deshan Gonawela double sent S.Thomas’ College romping to a 6-1 win over Dharmaraja College in the All Island Schools U19 Football Tournament.
The hosts were playing their opening fixture of the tournament while Dharmaraja were coming off a morale boosting 4-1 win over St.Benedict’s College, after playing close to an hour with 10 men.
Thomians went into halftime through early goals from Gonawela and Akhil Fernando and scored a further three minutes after halftime while Mendis capped off an energetic performance with the sixth goal on the stroke of fulltime.
S.Thomas’ captain Gonawela got his team to a perfect start scoring the opener inside the first five minutes with Fernando’s header doubling the lead in the 15th minute. However in the energy sapping conditions the hosts were unable to sustain the attacks they put together as the distance of the defense and forwards grew wider with the Rajans defense tested rarely for the next half an hour.
S.Thomas’ had the opportunity to score a few from dead-ball situations but the headers from close range were off target. For the Rajans it was upto Sri Lanka U19 Gihan Deshapriya to make a mark on the match but Dharmalingam Abikrishna led defense were able to contain him.
Straight after the restart Thomian coach made a positional change in bringing Dion Dias to the midfield to give extra support to Akhil and bridge the gap between defense and forward. It proved to vital for the schools by the sea as they attacked in a structured manner.
Mendis scored his first of the day in the 49th minute wonderfully pivoting himself to volley home a rebound, pass the Rajans goalkeeper. Minutes later Gonawela made a powerful run to the box and with the keeper charging he cutback in for an easy tap in for Mendis.
On the hour mark Gonawela bagged his brace when he rose above the rest to head in a precise free-kick from Dion Dias from 25 yards out. Even with a 5-0 score-line Rajans’ Deshpariya was desperately trying to create chances and one of his driving efforts unfortunately bounced off the cross bar and away from danger. However in the 64th minute luck was in his favour as his pile-driving free-kick hit the underside of the bar and over the line making it 5-1.
In the heated weather conditions both sides toiled hard for the next 25 minutes without any success but a miscommunication between goalkeeper Tharaka Thinodh and a defender under a high-ball let in
Mendis to easily head the ball into an empty what turned out to be the last play of the match.
“The boys are still adjusting to the new style of play from what they have been playing from their early days. It is going to be a tough build up project but you must be patient as well. Nonetheless happy with the win but needs to work on our passing a bit more.” Thomian coach R.M.Mahindapala told ThePapare.com after the match.
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: Deshan Gonawela
